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7th Sunday after Easter – 11am service

United Benefice of Altham and Clayton-le-Moors

Worship on the Seventh Sunday of Easter

Greeting

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

All        He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

Lord of all time and space, who was and is and is to come,
we worship and adore You for You alone are worthy of our praise.
There is none before you, none above you.
Your glory is ever before us
and this morning we are glad to take our place alongside all those who even now,
on earth and in heaven, are raising their voices to exalt You,
their minds to know You and their hearts to love You.
May our worship be a fitting offering –
a gift in return to the giver of every good and perfect gift.
In Jesus’ name, we pray; Amen.

 

Hymn

Crown him with many crowns,

the Lamb upon his throne;

hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns

all music but its own!

Awake, my soul, and sing

of him who died for thee,

and hail him as thy matchless King

through all eternity.

 

Crown him the Lord of love;

behold his hands and side,

those wounds yet visible above

in beauty glorified:

no angel in the sky

can fully bear that sight,

but downward bends his burning eye

at mysteries so bright.

 

Crown him the Lord of peace,

whose power a sceptre sways

from pole to pole, that wars may cease,

and all be prayer and praise:

his reign shall know no end,

and round his piercèd feet

fair flowers of paradise extend

their fragrance ever sweet.

 

Crown him the Lord of years,

the Potentate of time,

creator of the rolling spheres

ineffably sublime:

all hail, Redeemer, hail!

for thou hast died for me;

thy praise shall never, never fail

throughout eternity.

 

Prayers of penitence

What God has prepared for those who love him,

he has revealed to us through the Spirit;

for the Spirit searches everything.

Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord,

who has prepared good things for those who love him.

 

All        Most merciful God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we confess that we have sinned

in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

In your mercy

forgive what we have been,

help us to amend what we are,

and direct what we shall be;

that we may do justly,

love mercy,

and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen.

 

May the God of love and power

forgive you and free you from your sins,

heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,

and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

First reading
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

 

Gospel
John 17:1-11

After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed:

‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

‘I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

 

Sermon

 

Affirmation of faith

All   I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

 

Hymn

Majesty, worship his majesty
Unto jesus be all glory, power and praise
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from his throne
Unto his own his anthem raise.

So exalt lift up on high the name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the king
Majesty, worship his majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified
King of all kings.

 

Prayers of intercession

As it was Ascension Day on Thursday, risen Lord you reign in glory. Rule in our hearts and

lives, mould our wills to your will and bring every knee to bow in humble adoration; for you

are one with the Father and the Spirit, holy and eternal.

All        Amen

We hope soon to be able to worship together. God the source of life and joy we thank you

for the gift of music, its uniting different voices in one song, its stirring of the depth of the

heart in praise; fill us with its vibrancy, that our lives may rejoice in your love and be

renewed in the spirit of hope now and always.

All        Amen

King of Kings and Lord of Lords hear our prayer for Elizabeth our Queen and all who share

with her in the government of this country. May she be an instrument of your peace and

justice and may this nation proceed in unity and concord and be a beacon of hope to the

world, through Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace – the source of true glory.

All        Amen

Christ be our light, our hope our way. Christ be our shield in the darkest day. Christ be our

song of joy and delight. Christ be our steps through day and night. Christ be our peace

within our hearts. Christ be our all and never depart.

Thanks be to thee our Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits you have given us, for all the

pains and insults you have born for us. Oh, most merciful Redeemer friend and brother, may

we know you more clearly and follow you more nearly now and forever.

All        Amen

 

Collect

Risen, ascended Lord,

as we rejoice at your triumph,

fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,

that all who are estranged by sin

may find forgiveness and know your peace,

to the glory of God the Father.

All        Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven…

 

Hymn

The head that once was crowned with thorns

is crowned with glory now:

a royal diadem adorns

the might Victor’s brow.

 

The highest place that heaven affords

is his, is his by right,

the King of kings, and Lord of lords,

and heaven’s eternal Light;

 

The joy of all who dwell above,

the joy of all below,

to whom he manifests his love,

and grants his name to know.

 

To them the cross, with all its shame,

with all its grace, is given:

their name, an everlasting name,

their joy, the joy of heaven.

 

They suffer with their Lord below

they reign with him above;

their profit and their joy to know

the mystery of his love.

 

The cross he bore is life and health,

though shame and death to him;

his people’s hope, his people’s wealth,

their everlasting theme.

Blessing

As we go from this time of worship, remind us, God, that this is the beginning, not the end.  That You call us to Yourself then send us out to love and to serve. So may the blessing of

God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be amongst you and remain with you always.

 

All        Amen!

 

Copyright

Common Worship is (c) Copyright Archbishops Council of the Church of England

Biblical texts are from the Holy Bible New International Version Anglicised (NIV-UK) is (c) Copyright Biblica, Inc

Majesty by Jack Hayford is (c) Copyright Rocksmith Music Inc

The opening prayer and blessing are from The Church of Scotland Weekly Worship

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Revd Toby’s May Pastoral Newsletter

United Benefice of Altham and Clayton-le-Moors

Vicar: Revd Toby Webber, The Vicarage, Church St, Clayton-le-Moors
(01254) 384321   tobywebber@btinternet.com

May 2020

Dear friends

Well, how are you doing?  I have managed to speak to some of you (whether on the phone or at a distance when passing during exercise) and have seen social media updates or had messages from others.  Some I’ve had updates of from our pastoral team, who are ringing many of our ‘older’ parishioners on a regular basis.  Others I haven’t had any contact with and I hope that no news is good news.  Don’t be afraid to get in touch one way or the other if you’d like a chat or yourself or someone else to be kept in prayer (publicly or privately).

I know that a number of you or your loved ones have been directly affected by the coronavirus.  A few have been very ill, and others more mildly so.  A few have lost loved ones during this time, in some cases with Covid-19 as the main or contributory cause of death.  Others of you are already living with bereavement or sickness of yourself or a loved one and are having to do so without the physical comfort of relatives or many of the activities and services which can help us through.

Nationally it is good to observe that we are ‘past the peak’, but shocking to recognize that at least 30,000 lives have now been taken by this virus in our country already.  I note, too, that numbers of people in hospital with Covid19 here in the North-West remain high, in recent days overtaking the number in London.

I think that by and large we are all trying to remain as positive as we can and ‘get through’ but we will need to allow time individually and as a society to work through the trauma of this experience.  I pray that we will also take the time to think through carefully what we need to learn from it and how life can and should be different, post-pandemic.

Some of you are in one way or the other on the ‘frontline’.  The whole parish is proud of those of our number who are nursing the very sick and at times accompanying the dying.  Everyone’s thoughts and prayers are also with all those whose work brings them into heightened risk from this virus, whether as carers, in shops, in the emergency services or whatever it may be.  Whilst many of us seek to stay safe and work from home, you are out there day by day.  Our schools and their staffs are working very hard to support home learning, to care for those who need to be in school, and to keep in particular touch with those where there is a special need for support.

We are now in the seventh week of lockdown.  We are now beginning to look for how it will be eased and a gradual move towards greater freedom made be possible, hopefully without compromising public health.  The very simple message will become more complicated and so it will be very important that we continue to follow the instructions we are given.  A good number of you fall into the clinically very vulnerable group and have several more of your minimum twelve weeks minimum ‘shielding’ yet to come.  Our thoughts are with you as you cope with these strictures , especially those who live alone.

We are now well into the Easter season.  For many of us going through Holy Week and Easter without going ‘to church’ was very odd.  However, I hope whether through the services on facebook or through your own times of worship at home, you were still able to feel the reality of the Easter gospel of God’s redeeming act in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  And I hope that whilst physically apart we still feel ourselves to be members of one body, as indeed we are, the body of our risen Lord Jesus Christ.

I hope that everyone is now aware of our Facebook live services (Sundays from 10:45, Fridays at 6:30pm) and prayer times (Wednesday and Friday morning prayer and litany at 10am, daily night prayer at 9:30) and that you can access these on-line even if you do not have a Facebook account.  Google ‘Facebook All Saints Clayton’ and you should get the link.

If you aren’t on-line then I hope you have found the Sunday worship services on BBC television or radio.  There is now also a facility to access a FREE Church of England resource called ’Daily Hope’ by ringing 0800 804 8044.  There is a choice of listening, from hymns to a full service and the Mothers’ Union midday prayer.  Also, to enable you to join in the Night Prayer that some of us are sharing in at 9:30pm, I’m including the order of service with this mailing.  It is a very peaceful way to reflect and wind down at the end of the day and to place ourselves and the hurting world into God’s hands in prayer.

Some of you have asked about giving during this time.  The PCCs of both parishes are very grateful to those who give by standing order and whose contributions have continued.  They are very conscious that for some the lockdown has brought financial difficulties through unemployment, being placed on furlough, or the self-employed losing their income.  We quite understand where individuals need to suspend or reduce their giving.  Others who normally give by envelope may wish to help by giving via standing order, or if preferred via one or more one-off BACS payments.  Details for giving to All Saints’ can be found on the church website – or simply get in touch with me or Les Moore at Altham or Linda Bracewell at All Saints’ for details or a form.  Alternatively, you can simply accumulate your giving and bring it when the churches finally re-open.

Both our churches pledge to give 10% of our general income in charitable donations.  As part of this, All Saints’ PCC have now gifted £1000 during the lockdown to Clayton Baptist Church to help them help our community.  They are very active  as part of the Hyndburn Hub, and at the request of social services also helping needy families more widely across East Lancashire.  Some need a food parcel to tide them over, or because they have no-one to go shopping for them.  Others have come out of prison, or left an abusive relationship or similar and have absolutely nothing.  The Baptist Church on Sparth Road is open daily and you can always drop off food, household essentials, toys/colouring/craft things for children.

One effect of these strange times is the rediscovery of prayer by many who had perhaps given it up as old fashioned or irrelevant.  I’m sure that those of us who pray anyway have found ourselves praying more intently and regularly as we seek God’s peace, his healing for the sick, his strength and protection for the carers.  In prayer may we know his strength to carry us, his peace that passes understanding and courage for the path each of us is called to walk.  And in prayer may we seek his will, his direction for our futures, and that his kingdom come, on earth as in heaven.  Here is a prayer you might like to use:

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may all rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

With my love, prayers and best wishes,

Toby

 

 

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Night Prayers – Order of Service

An Order for Night Prayer (Compline)

The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning ‘completion’ (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. 


Preparation

 

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

All  Amen.

Our help is in the name of the Lord

All  who made heaven and earth.

 

A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.

The following or other suitable words of penitence may be used

 

All    Most merciful God, we confess to you,

before the whole company of heaven and one another,

that we have sinned in thought, word and deed

and in what we have failed to do.

Forgive us our sins, heal us by your Spirit

and raise us to new life in Christ. Amen.

 

O God, make speed to save us.

All    O Lord, make haste to help us.

All    Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.

Amen.

Alleluia.

 

The following or another suitable hymn may be said or sung

 

Before the ending of the day,

Creator of the world, we pray

That you, with steadfast love, would keep

Your watch around us while we sleep.

From evil dreams defend our sight,

From fears and terrors of the night;

Tread underfoot our deadly foe

That we no sinful thought may know.

O Father, that we ask be done

Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;

And Holy Spirit, by whose breath

Our souls are raised to life from death.

The Word of God
Psalmody

One or more of Psalms 4, 91 and 134 may be used daily.
Or Sundays Psalm 104:1, 21-33, Monday Psalm 86, Tuesday Psalm 143, Wednesday Psalm 31:1-5, 19-end, Thursday Psalm 16, Friday Psalm 139:1-18, Saturday Psalm 91

Scripture Reading

One of the following short lessons or another suitable passage

Sunday: You, O Lord, are in the midst of us and we are called by your name; leave us not, O Lord our God.  (Jeremiah 14.9)

 

Monday: Thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

 

Tuesday: Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

Wednesday: Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.’ (1 Peter 5:6,7)

 

Thursday: Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in the faith. (1 Peter 5.8, 9)

 

Friday: God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. (1 Thess 5:9,10)

 

Saturday: A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours as God did from his.  Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest.  (Hebrews 4:9-11a)

 

The following responsory may be said

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

All  Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.

All  I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit.

All  Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

 

Keep me as the apple of your eye.

All  Hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Gospel Canticle: The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon)

 

All  Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.

 

1    Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:  ♦

your word has been fulfilled.

2    My own eyes have seen the salvation  ♦

which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

3    A light to reveal you to the nations  ♦

and the glory of your people Israel.

All  Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

All  Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.

Prayers
Time for your own prayers of thanksgiving and intercession

 

Visit this place, O Lord, we pray, and drive far from it the snares of the enemy; may your holy angels dwell with us and guard us in peace, and may your blessing be always upon us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Our Father, who art in heaven

The Conclusion

In peace we will lie down and sleep;

All  for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus,

All  for the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night watch looks for the morning,

All  so do we look for you, O Christ.

The Lord bless us and watch over us;

the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us;

the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.

All  Amen.

Common Worship: Daily Prayer is © Copyright Archbishops Council of the Church of England.  Used by permission.

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Lent groups

This Lent we are focussing on St John’s Gospel.  It is a beautiful gospel with something for everyone – someone said it is “Deep enough for an elephant to swim and shallow enough for a child not to drown.”

Our Lent homegroups give the perfect opportunity to look at some of the great signs St John picks out to highlight who Jesus is and what he brings.  Anyone is welcome to join the groups – choose whichever time suits you better.  No prior experience or understanding is assumed, we’ll look at a passage together, aided by a simple study guide, and discuss our responses.

We have groups meeting in different homes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening.  We also have a group meeting in church on Wednesday mornings, 11:15am followed by a soup lunch and a group meeting at Altham Church at 10:45 on Sundays.

Full details of venues are on the Lent leaflet available at church.

 

 

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Prayer for the Week

Dear Lord,                                                                                                                                                                       Help me remember what a difference it makes                                                                                                         when I make time with You a priority in my morning.                                                                                               Awaken me in body and spirit each day with a desire to meet with You                                                               and to hear You speak words of affirmation, assurance, and wisdom                                                                        over my heart as I prepare to go into my day.

                                                                                       Amen

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Prayer for the Week

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‘Spirit of Christmas’ Thanks & photos

A massive thank you and well done to the organising team, craft workers, window decorators and helpers for a stunning festival. Thanks also to all those who supported the event, brought along friends, attended the concert or Carl Service; bought produce or raffle tickets. All helped in making the festival a success.

Below are a few photos to try and capture the essence of the festival.

 

 

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Scargill House Weekend

Why not come and join in our next Scargill Weekend which will take place from Friday 16th until Sunday 18th October 2020?

Scargill is a Christian based community of people who live, work and pray together and the purpose of the weekend is to spend time together as a church family.

The cost for an adult is £140 (or £160 if you are in an en-suite room). Please request an en-suite room early  if this is important to you as they were in high demand last time. For children the cost is reduced by Scargill, and further subsidies by the church. So the weekend is FREE for the under 5s; JUST £21 for 5-7s; £35 for 8s – 11s and £49 for 12s – 16s, (plus a supplement for en-suite). If anyone would be genuinely unable to attend due to cost, please have a quiet word and we will seek to help.

We ask for a 10% deposit at the time of booking – and you can pay the remainder in instalments. Deposits are not refundable after June, and full payment must be received by min – September 2020.

Booking forms can be found in this moth’s news letter, copies of which are at the back of church.

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Pilgrim Course

Do you want to find out more about Christianity, understand your faith better, or consider Baptism or Confirmation as an adult? 

Why not join a small group meeting at the vicarage on Tuesdays from 23rd September at 7:30pm?

For more information – have a word with Revd. Toby.

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